How do we thank the rest of the world?

[kbm8795]

Please forgive me for bringing this up at this time - I know we have months...maybe years of repair and reconstruction ahead of us in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast, but. . .I've had this idea churning in me for a couple of days and thought I might throw it out there for some feedback.

Now it's not like we haven't had nations offering us assistance in the past, but certainly never on this scale. I think I heard the other day that some 94 countries have offered some form of help from materials to food to money to doctors...and search and rescue teams. I know that many of these offers will be turned away by our State Department, but we are accepting some help with this disaster.

It seems to me that, given the circumstances in this catastrophe, that we, the American people, need to find some way to thank these nations at some point down the road. I konw this isn't a priority right now, and I know we've always helped others, but. . .well, southern manners are important, and frankly, at this point I don't trust our State Department as representing the gratitude that I believe Americans have toward the prayers and offers of assistance coming from so many other nations. I was thinking that maybe, at some point, we ask our Congress to pass a resolution of thanks from the American people. . .something that might seem to be more directly from the people rather than some protocol response from an Administration....or..maybe take newspaper ads of thanks in newspapers...something like that down the road.

The other thing I was thinking is that I don't want those gestures by others to be forgotten, and. . .well, at some point, the city of New Orleans and the cities on the Gulf Coast will be rebuilt. And. . .I'd like to see a monument...a marker...something commemorating Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. .. and dedicate part of it to the responders from so many cities and states around the country...and the other part to those nations that offered and contributed assistance. I'm no monument expert or anything. .. and I know there are a million other needs before anybody does something like this, but I don't want this idea to slip away. It's important for us to make this recorded in history for generations to come and for those who come after us to be reminded that in a time of disaster, humanity can show a universal caring for helping others.

Our foreign policy has been so negative these last few years. And it seems to me that part of our responsibility when we learn to accept help from our friends is that we have to honor that for the ages.

[Dogmudgeon]

1. We could start by impeaching Bush & Co.

That would be a good start.

--p!

[hardrainfallin]

2. took the words right outta my mouth. n/t

[tuvor]

5. That would be all the thanks required

Get the sick fuck and his cronies out of power. Frankly it can't happen soon enough....

Draft US defense paper outlines preventive nuclear strikes

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A new draft US defense paper calls for preventive nuclear strikes against state and non-state adversaries in order to deter them from using weapons of mass destruction and urges US troops to "prepare to use nuclear weapons effectively."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/usmilitarynuclear

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I personally thanked a Canadian yesterday

and I will thank Mexicans when I can... it will have to be people to people, at least until this band of thieves is out of power, and hopefully at the Hague, which trutly would be a gift to the world

[titoresque]

4. remember the "So sorry"

website after the election?
Maybe something like that......... a "Thankyou" website? I think that the "so sorry" website got alot of attention from media and seemed to reach so many around the world so it might be a good thing on a personal level. People take pictures of themselves behind a hand made sign saying "thankyou" and whatever else you wish to add.

Just a thought :)

[kbm8795]

6. I think that is a great idea. . .

and what a wonderful way to make it more personal, too. We know this story has been followed all over the world and...one thing I'm sick of is the impression this Administration seems to give that Americans just don't pay attention to others. We should be grateful for every good wish we receive from others. . .